Commodity sales data processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

In one embodiment, a commodity sales data processing apparatus has a data processing terminal and a docking station. Further, the commodity sales data processing apparatus has a connection mechanism and a lock mechanism. The connection mechanism connects the data processing terminal and the docking station in a separable state. The lock mechanism locks connection by the connection mechanism, so as to make the connection by the connection mechanism from in the separable state to in an inseparable state. Further, the lock mechanism releases locking of the connection by the connection mechanism when a specific key operation is performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-024231, filed on Feb. 10,2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a commodity sales dataprocessing apparatus including a portable data processing terminal and adocking station.

BACKGROUND

Recently, a portable, so-called tablet type information terminal hasbecome widespread. Also in a commodity sales data processing apparatuswhich is used in combination with a POS (Point of sale) system, one inwhich a portable data processing terminal and a stationary type dockingstation are combined begins to be introduced.

In a commodity sales data processing apparatus of this type, since adata processing terminal can be separated from a docking station, anoperator, such as an employee of a store, can perform a settlementprocessing while waiting on a customer, at a place irrespective of aplace of a cash register.

And, the data processing terminal is placed on a placing portion of thedocking station, at the time of charging of a battery of the dataprocessing terminal and data communication with the docking station, forexample, and is connected to the docking station via a connector.

But, the connection between the data processing terminal and the dockingstation is in a state that they are separable at any time. For thisreason, the data processing terminal is in a state that it can be takenout by any one at any time. In addition, when impact is applied to atable on which the docking station is placed, the data processingterminal might drop from the placing portion of the docking station, andfurther the above-described connector might be damaged by the impact dueto drop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a commodity sales data processingapparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that the docking stationand the data processing terminal of the commodity sales data processingapparatus according to the embodiment are separated.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, seen from another angle, showing a statethat the docking station and the data processing terminal of thecommodity sales data processing apparatus according to the embodimentare separated.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state that the cover of theconnection portion of the docking station of the commodity sales dataprocessing apparatus according to the embodiment is removed.

FIG. 5 is an explanation diagram for explaining functions of theconnection mechanism and the lock mechanism of the docking station andthe data processing terminal of the commodity sales data processingapparatus according to the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to one embodiment, a commodity sales data processing apparatushas a portable data processing terminal, a docking station, a connectionmechanism, and a lock mechanism. The data processing terminal has afirst connector and a touch panel. The docking station has a secondconnector which connects to the first connector and feeds power to thedata processing terminal, when the data processing terminal is connectedto the docking station. The connection mechanism connects the dataprocessing terminal and the docking station in a separable state. Thelock mechanism locks connection by the connection mechanism, so as tomake the connection by the connection mechanism from in the separablestate to in an inseparable state, and releases locking of the connectionby the connection mechanism when a specific key operation is performed.

Hereinafter, further embodiments will be described with reference to thedrawings. In the drawings, the same symbols indicate the same or similarportions.

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a commodity sales dataprocessing apparatus 1.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the commodity sales data processingapparatus 1 in which a data processing terminal 10 is separated from adocking station 20.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the commodity sales data processingapparatus 1 shown in FIG. 2 which is seen from another angle.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state that an upper cover of aconnection portion 22 of a table 21 of the docking station 20 isremoved.

FIG. 5 is an explanation diagram for explaining functions of aconnection mechanism and a lock mechanism 60 of the docking station 20and the data processing terminal 10 which are the essential portions ofthe commodity sales data processing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1.

Further, an operator operates the commodity sales data processingapparatus 1 facing toward a direction of an arrow O of FIG. 1. In thefollowing description, a front side, and a back side in the direction ofthe arrow O are called forward, and backward, respectively. In addition,a horizontal direction seen from the direction of the arrow O is calleda width direction.

The commodity sales data processing apparatus 1 has the data processingterminal 10 and the docking station 20. To begin with, a structure ofthe docking station 20 will be described.

The docking station 20 has a stationary box type main body 23 and thetable 21 on which the data processing terminal 10 is to be placed. Themain body 23 houses a printer, a storage device, a power source unit,and a communication interface and so on (none of them are shown) insidethereof. On the forward surface of the main body 23, a housing portionof terminals for connecting a handy scanner and a card reader and so on(not shown), for example, a power source switch 25, and a slide button26 to lock the table 21 and so on are arranged.

The power source unit feeds a driving power to input/output devices suchas the printer and the storage device in the docking station 20. Inaddition, the power source unit feeds a driving power to the dataprocessing terminal 10 via a male connector 210. In addition, the powersource unit charges a battery (not shown) of the data processingterminal 10. Further, the method of feeding power to the data processingterminal 10 by the power source unit is not limited to the physicalconnection using connectors, but may be a method to feed power by anoncontact charging system, for example.

The printer prints on a roll sheet (not shown) to be conveyed, using athermal head, for example. Since a printed roll sheet is issued as areceipt, it is cut off and discharged from a receipt issuing port 410.The printer uses a label sheet as the roll sheet, and thereby can alsoissue a label. In addition, the printer may be one using a printingsystem other than a thermal head.

The table 21 has a placing surface 27 on which the data processingterminal 10 is placed and which contacts with the rear surface of thedata processing terminal 10, as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. In addition,the table 21 has the connection portion 22 for connecting the dataprocessing terminal 10 placed on the placing surface 27 to the dockingstation 20. The slide button 26 provided at the main body side 23 isoperated, and thereby the table 21 can be rotated in the verticaldirection around the backward side separated from the connection portion22 as a fulcrum. In other words, the table 21 also functions as an upperlid of the main body 23. For example, an operator operates the slidebutton 26, to rotate the table 21 in the upward direction in thedrawing, and thereby can exchange a sheet for a printer housed insidethe main body 23. The table 21 is fitted on the main body 23 in aposture that the placing surface 27 tilts downward toward the forwarddirection.

The connection portion 22 has a block-shaped chassis 28 which isintegrally provided in front of the table 21. As shown in FIG. 4, themale connector (second connector) 210, two hooks 51, 52, and the lockmechanism 60 are provided inside the chassis 28. As shown in FIG. 3, atip of the male connector 210 and tips of the hooks 51, 52 project fromthe backward of chassis 28. The chassis 28 includes a backward firstwall portion 220 which extends approximately vertically to the placingsurface 27, and a forward second wall portion 230 provided opposite tothe first wall portion 220.

The above-described male connector 210 and the above-described hooks 51,52 are provided on the first wall portion 220 to project therefrom. Inaddition, plate-like guide protrusions 240, 250 are provided to protrudefrom the outer surface of the first wall portion 220, while overlappingwith the hooks 51, 52, respectively. A cylinder lock 61 of the lockmechanism 60, the receipt issuing port 410 of the printer, and aconnection release slide button 55 are provided on the second wallportion 230.

The male connector 210 is arranged approximately at the center portionin the longitudinal direction of the connection portion 22, as shown inFIG. 4 and FIG. 5. The male connector 210 has twenty pin-shapedterminals, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the twenty pin-shapedterminals are provided in the direction (that is a direction toward thebackward) approximately vertical to the first wall portion 220, andproject from the first wall portion 220. The male connector 210electrically connects to a female connector 110 of the data processingterminal 10. The male connector 210 connects to the female connector110, and functions as a terminal for feeding power to the dataprocessing terminal 10, for example. Further, the male connector 210functions as terminals for performing transmission/reception ofinformation between the docking station 20 and the data processingterminal 10.

The two hooks 51, 52 are provided along the longitudinal direction ofthe connection portion 22, and at the both sides of the male connector210 so as to sandwich the male connector 210 therebetween. The hooks 51,52 are respectively engaged with engagement holes 120, 130 describedlater of the data processing terminal 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the hooks51, 52 are integrally connected via a flat plate like connecting plate53. Between the second wall portion 230 of the chassis 28 and theconnecting plate 53, a tension coil spring 54 is stretched in a state tobe slightly extended. That is, one end of the tension coil spring 54 isfitted to a fixed portion 56A of the connecting plate 53, and the otherend is fitted to a fixed portion 56B of the second wall portion 230. Thetension coil spring 54 energizes the hooks 51, 52 toward a direction(right direction in FIG. 5) to engage with engagement holes describedlater.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, the connection release slide button 55is integrally fixed to the connecting plate 53. For this reason, anoperator operates the connection release slide button 55 from theoutside of the second wall portion 230, and thereby can move the hooks51, 52 in the direction to disengage from the engagement holes 120, 130described later respectively, against the energizing force of thetension coil spring 54. That is, the hooks 51, 52 can move in thedirection to engage with the engagement holes 120, 130 described later,and in the direction to disengage from the engagement holes 120, 130,respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lock mechanism 60 is provided at one end side(left side in the drawing) of the connection portion 22. The lockmechanism 60 has the cylinder lock 61, a plate 62 which is to beconnected to this cylinder lock 61, and a pressing portion 63 which isprovided at a tip portion of the opposite side of the cylinder lock 61of this plate 62, and is to be pressed to an end portion of theconnecting plate 53.

Next, a structure of the data processing terminal 10 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, the data processing terminal 10 includes a tabletportion 11 and a magnetic card reader 30. The tablet portion 11 has arectangular and plate-like outer shape, so that the data processingterminal 10 is portable. The magnetic card reader 30 is provided alongthe right end edge in the drawing of the tablet portion 11. The tabletportion 11 has a touch panel 12 having an information input function onthe surface. The tablet portion 11 includes a display device (notshown), the touch panel 12, a mask 13 and a rear surface cover 14. Thetouch panel 12 and the display device are arranged while beingsurrounded by a chassis 15 composed of the mask 13 and the rear surfacecover 14.

The tablet portion 11 is a portable personal computer, for example, andhas a battery (not shown) as its driving power source. Further, thetablet portion 11 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read OnlyMemory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a USB (Universal Serial Bus)connector, a wireless unit and so on (none of them are shown).

Further, the tablet portion 11 has the female connector (firstconnector) 110 and the two engagement holes 120, 130, in the forward endsurface of the chassis 15. The female connector 110 connects to the maleconnector 210 of the docking station 20. In addition, the engagementholes 120, 130 and the hooks 51, 52 cooperate respectively to functionas a connection mechanism. That is, the connection mechanism includesthe hooks 51, 52 and the engagement holes 120, 130. The connectionmechanism connects the data processing terminal 10 and the dockingstation 20 in a separable state, by the respective engagements of thehooks 51, 52 with the engagement holes 120, 130.

As shown in FIG. 2, the female connector 110 is provided approximatelyat a center portion in the longitudinal direction of the rear surfacecover 14, and at a position corresponding to the above-described maleconnector 210. The female connector 110 is a connector for electricallyconnecting the data processing terminal 10 to the docking station 20.The female connector 110 has a plurality of connection terminals forelectrically connecting to the respective pin-shaped terminals of themale connector 210 provided in the docking station 20.

The two engagement holes 120, 130 are provided at positionscorresponding to the above-described hooks 51, 52 in the rear surfacecover 14, respectively. Specifically, the engagement holes 120, 130 areprovided along the longitudinal direction of the rear surface cover 14,and at the both sides of the female connector 110 so as to sandwich thefemale connector 110 therebetween. The engagement holes 120, 130 receivethe hooks 51, 52 and the guide protrusions 240, 250, respectively. Thehooks 51, 52 received in the engagement holes 120, 130 are engaged withthe engagement holes 120, 130, respectively. For example, the hooks 51,52 are hooked in the engagement holes 120, 130, and thereby they areengaged with the engagement holes 120, 130, respectively. Further, theguide protrusions 240, 250 received by the engagement holes 120, 130 arefitted into the engagement holes 120, 130, respectively, as describedbelow. The engagement holes 120, 130 have widths slightly larger thanthe guide protrusions 240, 250, so as to receive entering of the guideprotrusions 240, 250, respectively. As will be described later, theguide protrusions 240, 250 perform positioning of the data processingterminal 10 to the docking station 20 in the width direction. In otherwords, the engagement holes 120, 130 have slightly larger widths thanthe guide protrusions 240, 250, respectively, and thereby they guide theentering of the guide protrusions 240, 250 into the engagement holes120, 130, and perform positioning of the data processing terminal 10 tothe docking station 20 in the width direction.

The magnetic card reader 30 has an approximately rectangular andblock-shaped outer shape. The magnetic card reader 30 has a readinggroove 31 for reading a magnetic card along its longitudinal direction.The magnetic card reader 30 is provided at a position where it isoperable in the state that the data processing terminal 10 is connectedto the docking station 20, that is at an end portion in the widthdirection, or at a backward end portion of the tablet portion 11. In thepresent embodiment, the magnetic card reader 30 is provided at the rightside end portion in the width direction of the tablet portion 11 seenfrom an operator.

Next, an operation in which the data processing terminal is connected tothe docking station 20 by the above-described connection mechanism willbe described.

To begin with, an operator places the data processing terminal 10 in astate separated from the docking station 20 as shown in FIG. 2, on theplacing surface 27 of the docking station 20. Then, the operator slidesthe data processing terminal 10 along the slope of the placing surface27, and toward the connection portion 22 of the docking station 20. Bythis means, the female connector 110 provided in the tablet portion 11of the data processing terminal 10 and the male connector 210 providedon the connection portion 22 of the docking station 20 are connected. Atthe same time, the guide protrusions 240, 250 and the hooks 51, 52 ofthe connection portion 22 respectively enter into the engagement holes120, 130 arranged at the both sides of the female connector 110.

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the hooks 51, 52 have locking portions510, 520 and step portions 530, 540, respectively. The locking portions510, 520 are provided at the tip sides of the hooks 51, 52,respectively. Specifically, each of the locking portions 510, 520 has anarrowhead shaped barb tapering toward the tip portion of each of thehooks 51, 52 at one end thereof. The step portions 530, 540 are providedat the base end sides of the locking portions 510, 520 of the hooks 51,52, respectively.

When connecting of the docking station 20 and the data processingterminal 10 is started, edge portions 150 of the engagement holes 120,130 come in contact with slope portions 550 (refer to FIG. 5) of thelocking portions 510, 520 of the hooks 51, 52, respectively. Further,when the data processing terminal 10 is pressed toward the connectionportion 22 by an operator, the hooks 51, 52 move in the width directiontoward the cylinder lock 61 side, against the energizing force of thetension coil spring 54. When the slope portions 550 of the lockingportions 510, 520 cross over the edge portions 150 of the engagementholes 120, 130, and thereby the locking portions 510, 520 completelyenters into the engagement holes 120, 130, the hooks 51, 52 slightlyreturn by the energizing force of the tension coil spring 54, and theedge portions 150 of the engagement holes 120, 130 enter into the stepportions 530, 540, respectively (refer to FIG. 5). By this means, thehooks 51, 52 are engaged with the inside of the edge portions 150 of theengagement holes 120, 130, respectively.

The guide protrusions 240, 250 respectively enter into the engagementholes 120, 130, to perform positioning of the data processing terminal10 to the docking station 20. In addition, the guide protrusions 240,250 guide the entering of the hooks 51, 52 into the engagement holes120, 130, respectively. In addition, the guide protrusions 240, 250perform positioning of the data processing terminal 10 to the dockingstation 20 in the width direction, and thereby they suppress stress frombeing applied to the connection portion of the male connector 210 andthe female connector 110, and prevent the damage of the male connector210 and the female connector 110.

Next, an operation in which the docking station 20 and the dataprocessing terminal 10 which have been connected by the above-describedconnection mechanism are separated will be described. In addition, inthe following description of a separation operation, it is assumed thatthe engagements of the hooks 51, 52 and the respective engagement holes120, 130 of the connection mechanism are not locked by the lockmechanism 60.

The docking station 20 and the data processing terminal 10 are connectedas shown in FIG. 1. In the state that the data processing terminal 10and the docking station 20 are connected, the hooks 51, 52 of thedocking station 20 are engaged with the engagement holes 120, 130 of thedata processing terminal 10, respectively. For this reason, an operatorcannot draw out the male connector 210 from the female connector 110, inthis state.

In order to release the engagement state of the hooks 51, 52 and therespective engagement holes 120, 130, that is, to make them in thedisengagement state, an operator slides the connection release slidebutton 55 provided on the second wall portion 230 of the connectionportion 22 of the docking station 20, in the direction of the cylinderlock 61.

In accordance with the sliding of the connection release slide button55, the hooks 51, 52 move against the energizing force of the tensioncoil spring 54. By this movement of the hooks 51, 52, the engagementstate of the hooks 51, 52 with the respective engagement holes 120, 130is released, and thereby they become in the disengagement state. Andwhen the operator slides backward the data processing terminal 10 placedon the placing surface 27 in this state, the connection between thedocking station 20 and the data processing terminal 10 is disconnected,and thereby the data processing terminal 10 is separated from thedocking station 20.

Subsequently, an operation in which the connection of the dockingstation 20 and the data processing terminal 10 by the above-describedconnection mechanism is locked will be described.

An operator operates the cylinder lock 61 provided in the dockingstation 20, and thereby can lock the docking station 20 to which thedata processing terminal 10 is connected. The docking station 20 islocked, and thereby the engagement state of the hooks 51, 52 (lockingportions 510, 520) and the engagement holes 120, 130, that are theconnection portions of the data processing terminal 10 and the dockingstation 20, is locked. That is, it becomes unable to release theabove-described engagement state by the operation of the above-describedconnection release slide button 55 by the operator. Specifically, whenthe cylinder lock 61 is operated by the operator for performing theabove-described locking, the pressing portion 63 provided at the tipportion of the plate 62 connected to the cylinder lock 61 comes incontact with the end portion of the connecting plate 53. By this means,the plate 62 regulates the movement of the connecting plate 53, andmakes the hooks 51, 52 unable to move in the width direction. In otherwords, the docking station 20 inseparably fixes the data processingterminal 10, in this state.

Next, an operation in which locking of the connection of the dockingstation 20 and the data processing terminal 10 is released will bedescribed.

In order that locking of the connection of the docking station 20 andthe data processing terminal 10 is released, it is necessary that thecylinder lock 61 of the lock mechanism 60 is unlocked. Here, thecylinder lock 61 is unlocked by a specific key operation using aseparate key by an operator. The operator unlocks the cylinder lock 61,and thereby can release the above-described contact state between thepressing portion 63 and the end portion of the connecting plate 53. Thatis, when the cylinder lock 61 is unlocked, the pressing portion 63separates from the end portion of the connecting plate 53. By thismeans, the regulation of the movement of the connecting plate 53 by theplate 62 is released, and thereby the hooks 51, 52 become able to movein the width direction. Accordingly, it becomes able to release theengagement state of the locking portions 510, 520 of the hooks 51, 52and the respective engagement holes 120, 130, by the operation of theabove-described connection release slide button 55.

Accordingly, the data processing terminal 10 and the docking station 20become separable.

According to the commodity sales data processing apparatus 1 asdescribed above, the data processing terminal 10 is not carelesslydropped from the docking station 20, in the state that the dataprocessing terminal 10 is placed on the docking station 20, to cause tobe damaged. In addition, in order to separate the data processingterminal 10 from the docking station 20, the unlocking operation of thecylinder lock 61 and the operation of the connection release slidebutton 55 are necessary. For this reason, even when an operator is notpresent near the commodity sales data processing apparatus 1, anotherperson cannot easily bring out the data processing terminal 10. Inaddition, in the commodity sales data processing apparatus 1, anoperator operates the slide button 26, in the state that the dataprocessing terminal 10 is connected to the docking station 20, andthereby can rotate the table 21. For this reason, in the commodity salesdata processing apparatus 1, the operator can exchange a printer sheet,in the state that the data processing terminal 10 is placed on the table21. In addition, the connection between the data processing terminal 10and the docking station 20 of the commodity sales data processingapparatus 1 is locked by the lock mechanism 60. For this reason, afterthe close of business of a store or the like where the commodity salesdata processing apparatus 1 is installed, for example, a person who doesnot possess the key cannot bring out only the data processing terminal10 separately from the docking station 20.

In addition, the above-described embodiment is not limited to theabove-described configuration.

In the embodiment, the cylinder lock 61 has been used, as the lockmechanism 60 to lock the connection between the docking station 20 andthe data processing terminal 10, but the kinds of the lock and key ofthe lock mechanism 60 are not limited to this. It is only necessary thatthe lock mechanism 60 of the embodiment is a mechanism which locks theconnection by the above-described connection mechanism, makes the dataprocessing terminal 10 inseparable from the docking station 20, and canrelease the locking of the connection by the connection mechanism with aspecific key operation. For example, it is also possible to use anothermechanical key, an electronic key, or a combination thereof, as the lockmechanism 60, in place of the cylinder lock 61.

In addition, the specific key operation is a system to insert a key intoa lock to unlock the lock, if the key is a mechanical key, and a systemto match a prescribed number, or the like, if the key is a dial key.Further, the specific key operation is an input operation of a personalidentification number, a method of inputting a prescribed sign, or thelike, if the key is an electronic key.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the lock mechanism 60(cylinder lock 61) has been provided at the docking station 20 side, butit is possible to provide the lock mechanism 60 at the data processingterminal 10 side.

In addition, in the case that, when a store or the like is open, it istroublesome to lock every time an operator leaves the commodity salesdata processing apparatus 1, it is also possible to configure the lockof the docking station 20 so that it can be unlocked using a noncontactelectronic key, for example. By this means, it is also possible to use aconfiguration which unlocks the docking station 20, when a holder of akey (operator) is present within a definite range, and locks the dockingstation 20, on the contrary when an operator is absent.

In addition, the data processing terminal 10 has been configured toconnect to the connection portion 22 arranged at the forward side of thedocking station 20, but the position of the connection is not limited tothis. For example, it is also possible to use a configuration such thatthe connection mechanism is provided at a portion of the placing surface27 of the docking station 20, and the rear surface of the dataprocessing terminal 10 and the docking station 20 are connected.

In addition, the commodity sales data processing apparatus 1 isinstalled along with a drawer (not shown) to store change, in manycases. Therefore, a key used for the drawer and a key used for the lockmechanism 60 of the docking station 20 can be made the same. By thismeans, the management of the key becomes easy.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A commodity sales data processing apparatus,comprising: a portable data processing terminal having a first connectorand a touch panel; a docking station having a second connector whichconnects to the first connector and feeds power to the data processingterminal, when the data processing terminal is connected to the dockingstation; a connection mechanism which connects the data processingterminal and the docking station in a separable state; and a lockmechanism which locks connection by the connection mechanism, so as tomake the connection by the connection mechanism from in the separablestate to in an inseparable state, and releases locking of the connectionby the connection mechanism when a specific key operation is performed.2. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein: the touch panel is provided on a surface of the data processingterminal; the docking station has a placing surface on which the dataprocessing terminal is placed, while the placing surface contacts a rearsurface of the data processing terminal that is an opposite side of thesurface; and the connection mechanism connects the data processingterminal placed on the placing surface to the docking station in theseparable state.
 3. The commodity sales data processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein the connection mechanism includes; anengagement hole provided in the data processing terminal; and a hookprovided on the docking station which enters into the engagement hole toengage with the engagement hole.
 4. The commodity sales data processingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the hook is provided on thedocking station movably in a direction to engage with the engagementhole and in a direction to disengage from the engagement hole.
 5. Thecommodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:the hook includes a locking portion formed at a tip side of the hook,and a step portion formed at a base end side of the hook; and thelocking portion enters into the engagement hole while making contactwith an edge portion of the engagement hole, and the edge portion of theengagement hole enters into the step portion, and thereby the hook isengaged with the engagement hole.
 6. The commodity sales data processingapparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the hooks are provided by twoat positions sandwiching the second connector therebetween, and theengagement holes are provided by two at positions corresponding to thetwo hooks, respectively.
 7. The commodity sales data processingapparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the two engagement holes areprovided at positions sandwiching the first connector therebetween; andthe hooks enter into the engagement holes, respectively, when the firstconnector and the second connector are connected.
 8. The commodity salesdata processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the dockingstation has a guide protrusion which is fitted into the engagement hole,to perform positioning of the data processing terminal to the dockingstation, when the docking station connects to the data processingterminal.
 9. The commodity sales data processing apparatus according toclaim 8, wherein: the guide protrusion is fitted into the engagementhole, to guide entering of the hook into the engagement hole.
 10. Thecommodity sales data processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:the lock mechanism locks movement of the hook in a state to be engagedwith the engagement hole.